The park was purposely designed to let kids take risks in a safe environment. Features of the playground include ziplines, various size swings, a rolling hill, and a rope walkway.

Levi Higgs says he really values all these design features.

"At the end of the day, you're never going to be able to protect your kids from everything that could happen to them," he told CTV Vancouver. "So you have to get them to learn how to handle themselves, and be able to pick themselves back up."

Now, local leaders in Delta, B.C., also want to bring back an element of risk as they plan an update of the Annieville playground.

Researchers say riskier play helps prepare kids for real life, and that kids who aren't allowed to take risks may show greater anxiety and depression later on.

A slightly riskier playground won't stop that tomorrow. But maybe, just maybe, it might hard wire a brain or two in Richmond to accept that there's a big tough world out there, and when it hurts you the only response is to get better at taking the punishment it dishes out.